Ground broken for Niagara Co. park

Officials from New York Power Authority, New York State and Niagara County were among those who broke ground Wednesday at Reservoir State Park, following through on a NYPA commitment to provide nearly $6 million in funding for the major refurbishment of the 133-acre recreational site.

NYPA has awarded a two-year contract to a Niagara Falls firm, Mark Cerrone Inc., to carry out the extensive work at the park, which is expected to be completed in late 2011.

The improvements also will include the rehabilitation of a park memorial that serves as a tribute to the local workers who lost their lives in work-related accidents.

The Reservoir State Park improvements are provided for under a recreation plan that the Power Authority developed during the successful federal relicensing of the Niagara Power Project in 2007. The park, owned and operated by NYPA with Authority financial support, by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, is within the boundary of the 2,441-megawatt project, along the south side of the facility’s Lewiston Reservoir. The parkland is located in both the Town of Lewiston and the Town of Niagara.

Among the measures are:

• Redeveloping existing baseball diamonds, including new lighting at one of the infields

• New outdoor pavilions

• Modified and expanded parking lots

• A new natural ice skating rink

• A new warming building for winter activities

• Re-graded soccer fields, for improved drainage

• Refurbished and new basketball and tennis courts

• An improved children’s playground, which will be handicapped-accessible

• A new handicapped-accessible walking path for the south section of the park